A’Ibom Govt flouts court order against impoundment of commercial vehicles
By Ofonime Honesty
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Weeks after the Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo issued a restraining order barring the state government and its agents from impounding commercial buses and tricycles on grounds of non-compliance with the double biometrics capturing, multiple taxation and other inordinate levies, more cases of impoundments have been recorded.
Following the restraining order which was handed by Justice Uwem Ibritam on November 14, 2022, about three buses with registration numbers AWK 664 YF, AFG 04 XA and KKN 205 XA belonging to Fortune Offiong Ene, Godwin Okon Etim and Aniekan Edet Samuel, and a tricycle belonging to Aniedi Okon Isang.
This is even as the Ministry of Transport which supervises the activities of enforcement officers was duly served with the court order.
Speaking with newsmen over the weekend, after a recent court session, operator of the seized tricycle, Aniedi Okon Isang, said he was manhandled by the taskforce members and mocked to go report to the judge that his tricycle has been seized.
He said life has been very bleak for him, his wife and children since the tricycle (Keke) was seized on the 15th of December, 2022.
Also speaking, President of the Township Drivers Association of Akwa Ibom State (TDAAKS), Comrade Bassey Effiong Udofia condemned the continued seizures, and queried if “the taskforce members are above the law?”
The court had earlier frowned that its order was flouted, and had warned defendants to desist forthwith.
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The suit has HU/422/2022 as registration number. Read more.
